By DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | For a year and a half, school crossing guard Maria Acosta has been watching over children and pedestrians at the corner of Chambers and Greenwich Sts. near P.S. 234. Acosta, who was an elementary school teacher in her native Dominican Republic, wanted to be a crossing guard because it is […]

BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | Cool blues, high-tech gadgetry, dizzying heights and amazing vistas mark the experience at the now opened One World Observatory. It begins by entering 1 World Trade Center, or the Freedom Tower, on its West St. side and going down into the building. Its opening day, Fri., May 29, lines flanked […]

BY ANDY HUMM | The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission will, this week, begin consideration of landmark designation for the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, site of the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969 that sparked the modern L.G.B.T. rights movement. If approved, it would represent the first such designation from the commission exclusively for a […]

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | Soho has a unique and fascinating history as a renowned artists’ enclave that was carved out of a dying manufacturing zone. But now the last vestiges of that arts colony are, in turn, fading fast, trampled asunder by the feet of millions of shopping tourists as the district has morphed into […]

(Originally posted June 3, 2015) The Battery’s long-awaited colorful Seaglass Carousel with fish instead of horses will “definitely” open sometime next month, a Battery Conservancy spokesperson told Downtown Express Tuesday. Attendees of the conservancy’s annual gala Monday night got the first glimpse of the fish all lit up. “It was very exciting to see […]

BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | The seriousness of the charges Tiffany Murdaugh — including assault in the second degree — faces is unusual in reckless driving cases that don’t involve a fatality, alcohol or fleeing from police. Murdaugh, 34, is accused of driving on the sidewalk to pass traffic early Monday morning on April 13 […]

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | On Saturday, the Elizabeth St. Garden celebrated its volunteers on the second anniversary of the effort that has brought the all volunteer-run Little Italy garden to life as a vibrant community space. It was a beautiful “Manhattanhenge” weekend afternoon, as golden sunlight streamed perfectly through the garden along its central […]

BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | (Originally posted May 29, 2015) Police say the suspect in the Beekman St. hit and run accident last month may have been under the influence of marijuana. Tiffany Murdaugh, 34, was arrested on Tues., May 19 for an incident that seriously injured Heather Hensl, a 37-year-old mother who was walking […]

BY MIA RUPANI | Inspired by their mutual love for the “Harry Potter” series, sixth-grader Qian Qian and her friends agreed that after lending out books to friends, having them returned with the pages dog-eared was a pet peeve. Determined to make a change, they worked together to create a business they call Book Lovers. “We […]

The Hudson River Park Trust has tapped restaurateur, Michael Dorf, founder and C.E.O. of City Winery in Tribeca, to run its eatery at Pier 26. Dubbed the City Vineyard, the glass-enclosed restaurant will offer vistas of the Hudson River as well of the Manhattan skyline and will have indoor and outdoor dining space that includes […]